Olds residents will have two occasions to ask questions to the constituency's four candidates before Election Day.
The Olds Municipal Library has organized coffee sessions with three of the four candidates at the library.
“As a library, we definitely believe that people should be informed and have as much opportunities to find out as much information as they can so that they can make the right decision when they go to vote,” said Lesley Winfield, library manager.
“Of course, we are very big advocates of everyone taking the time to vote. When the election was called, we felt that it was a good opportunity for us to hold something for the community that would give people that opportunity.”
Wildrose candidate Bruce Rowe will be at the library this Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., while Liberal candidate Garth Davis will have his turn this Wednesday, from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
PC candidate Darcy Davis will be at the library on April 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“Basically, it will be an open house. There will be refreshments and coffee. The candidate will be here. It will be just as simple as that,” said Winfield.
“People can come and shake hands with the candidates and ask them the questions that they have wanted to ask, just like if a candidate came to your door and you could ask them whatever you want.”
Winfield says that all the candidates are very excited about participating in the library coffee sessions.
“Our sessions are more laid-back; they are more of an open-house style, where you can ask questions rather than a big forum,” she said.
“We feel that having that opportunity for people where it's kind of a less formal setting takes out some of the intimidation when they want to ask a question.”
Candidates debate
Meanwhile, Mountain View Publishing, the Olds and District Chamber of Commerce, Olds College, and ROCK 104.5/CKFM 96.5 have joined forces to organize an all-candidates debate this Wednesday at the Olds College Alumni Centre, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
“It is part of our job as a newspaper. We have the chamber of commerce on board, who usually gets involved with the debate,” said Murray Elliott, Mountain View Publishing publisher.
“We have the radio station and the college has also stepped up to the plate as a partner.”
Elliott believes that the debate will give residents the opportunity to get to the heart of the matter and hear what the candidates have to say.
“We are fortunate that we have four candidates coming. We have NDP, Liberal, Wildrose, and PC,” he said.
“We will have written questions and we will of course vet the questions to make sure that we are not duplicating.”
Former MLA and ethics commissioner Bob Clark will moderate the debate.
